Fluid pressure operated multiway valve



Nov. 25, 1952 F. J. wARcUP FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED MULTIWAY VALVE 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR 5( .BY 'A ATTORNEY Filed OCL. 14, 1949 Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PTNT GFFICE FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED MULTIWAY VALVE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning beer lines, and the invention relates more particularly to master valves for selectively connecting a beer line and a keg with a water supply.

Beer forms a coating on the inside of lines through which it passes, and this coating must be removed from time to time in order to prevent it from becoming excessive and adversely affecting .the flavor` of the beer. When the beer line is located in a warm place, yeast grows on the coating in the lines and flakes off into the beer stream, with the result that the beer drawn from the line is not clear.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved valve for apparatus for cleaning beer lines. The invention includes a valve of novel construction in which valve elements are moved by a servo-motor into different positions for connecting the beer line with the tapping equipment on the keg, or with a water supply line into which chemical and/or air bubbles may be injected if desired.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the valve means can be moved to an extreme position in which the beer line is connected with the tapping equipment and the water supply simultaneously. This makes it possible to pass water through the tapping equipment as well as through the beer line for thoroughly cleaning all passages through which the beer passes.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the description proceeds.

In the drawing, forming a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a bear clistributing system embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken through one of the master valves shown in Figure 1,

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken through the valve shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows a bar l0, represented diagrammatically, and beer faucets and |2 for dispensing beer from kegs |5 and l5, respectively. There may be additional beer faucets on the bar, and the faucets i and 2 are merely representative of a plurality of faucets for dispensing beer from different kegs.

The faucet il is connected with the keg |5 by a beer line 2Q which includes a cooling coil 2| and a flexible hose 22 connected with a rod 2S through couplings and fittings in a manner Well understood in the art, The faucet I2 is similarly 2. connected with the keg I6. Air is supplied to the kegs I5 and l5 through hoses 26 and 21 connected with a manifold 29 which is supplied with air from an air supply tank 3i).

At the upper end of the beer rod 23, there is a master valve 3|. rI'his master valve is interposed in the beer line between the rod and the hose 22 in `the illustrated embodiment of Ithe invention, but it will be understood that it can be located between the hose 22 and the tubing leading to the coil 2| if desired. There is a similar master valve 32 at the upper end of the beer rod of the keg It.

The construction of the master valve 3| Will be described in connection with Fig. 2 of the drawing; and for the present it is suicient to understand that this valve is movable into three positions, and the effect of the valve in these different positions. In one position the valve 3| connects the keg |5 directly with 4the beer line 29. In another position, the master valve 3| shuts off the beer line from the keg and puts the beer line in communication 4with a hose 35 leading to a .water manifold 35. In a third position, the master valve 3| puts the water hose into communication with both the beer line 29 and rod 23 simultaneously.

Water is supplied to the manifold 35 from a water supply line through a vacuum breaker [i pressure regulator 42, check valve 43, and air injection device 44. The vacuum breaker 4|, pressure regulator 42 and check valve 43 are of conventional construction.

The air injection device 44 comprises a housing having a chamber 41 into which air is introduced from a nozzle 48, compressed air being supplied to this nozzle 48 through a check valve 59 from tubing 5| that leads Ato an air manifold 54 located on the bar. There is a manually actuated valve on the bar for controlling the supply of air to the tubing 5|. The air manifold 54 is connected with the air supply tank 3U, but compressed air can be supplied from other sources if desired.

When the valve 5t is open, compressed airis supplied through the nozzle 48 to the water stream flowing in the air injection device 44. When the valve 55 is closed, water passes through the chamber 41 without receiving any air from the nozzle 43. The purpose of check valve 5|! is to prevent water in the chamber 41 from backing up into the air supply tubing 5| in the event v that there is no Water owing through the chamber 47 and the static pressure of the water exceeds the pressure in the air tubing 5|. The

pressure of the air at the nozzle 48 can be adjusted by a regulator 51.

At one end of the manifold 36 ahead of the branches that connect with the hose 35, and a similar hose 58 for supplying water to the master valve 32, there is a branch 66 for connection With a chemical supply tank 62. This chemical sup ply tank 62 is removably connected with the branch 60 by a threaded connector 64 having handles 65 by which the tank can be manually connected and disconnected from the upper end of the branch 6U. There is a valve 61 commanding the branch 68, and this valve is closed when the chemical supply tank 62 is disconnected from the branch.

The opening at the lower end of the chemical supply tank 62 connects with a tube 69 leading upward to a level intermediate the upper and lower ends of the tank 62. This tube 69 has adownwardly turned end portion so that water entering the tank 62 through the tube 69 is projected downwardly from the end of the tube into a supply of granules 1| of cleaning material, such as tri-sodium phosphate. The granules are inserted into the tank 62 through a filler tube 13 at the upper end of the tank. This tube 13 is closed at its upper end by threaded plug 15.

The upper portion of the tank 62 above the open end of the tube 69 comprises an air dome into which air is compressed by the water entering the tank through the tube 69. This compressed air forces the solution of cleaning material 1| out of the tank, through the tube 69 and into the stream of water flowing to the manifold, whenever the pressure in the manifold drops as the result of the opening of a beer faucet that is in communication with the water manifold 36 through one of the master valves. The portion of the tank 62 above the lower end of the filler tube 13 serves as an air dome from which compressed air cannot leak even though the plug 15 is not air tight.

The chemical supply tank 62 is attached to the branch 60 whenever the beer lines are to be cleaned with chemical, and the serviceman can use the same tank 62 on different systems that he cleans. However, a chemical supplv tank 62 can be permanently connected with the system, if desired, and can be made ineffective between cleanings by closingr the valve 61.

When the tank 62 is connected to the branch 60, and the valve 61 is open, water surges into the tank 62, forming a solution of cleaner and compressing air in the top of the tank, whenever there is no water being drawn from the manifold 36 and the water in the manifold is, therefore. at its full static pressure. Whenever water flows from the manifold to an open faucet, the pressure in the manifold drops and the compressed air in the chemical supplv tank 62 forces cleaning solution to ow to the manifold 36. Since the pressure drop in the manifold is proportional to the rate of ow from the open faucet, the supply of cleaner from the tank 62 to the water stream is proportional to the rate of flow of the water stream.

In a similar way, the flow of air into the water stream from the nozzle 48 is proportional to the rate of water ow through the air injection device 44 because the greater the drop in pressure in the chamber 41, the more rapidly will the air ow into the water in the chamber through the nozzle 48. One dierence, however, in the air supply and chemical solution supply is that the compressed air above the chemical solution drops in pressure and will only discharge a limited amount of cleaning solution each time a faucet is opened, whereas the air supply to the nozzle 48 is preferably maintained at substanti ally constant pressure by means of a pump or pressure regulator.

The nozzle 48 has a small discharge outlet, or group of outlets, so that it supplies air in the form of small bubbles. Experience has shown that water containing these bubbles of compressed air exerts a cleaning action equivalent to. or better than, Water containing sand or other abrasives, but the obvious disadvantages of solid abrasives is avoided with this invention. The cleaning of the beer lines with the bubble-lled water streams can be carried on without the use of chemicals. The chemical tank 62 provides means for sterilizing and cleaning lines that have been allowed to stand without cleaning until they have accumulated substantial deposits on their inside surfaces.

Each of the master valves 3| and 32 is operated by a. servomotor located at the upper end of the valve housing and supplied with air through tubing 18. The supply of air to and from the tubing 18 which connects with the master valve 3| is controlled by a three way air cock 8| located on the bar and connected with the air manifold 54. The supply of air into and out of the tubing 18 which leads to the servomotor of the other master valve 32 is controlled by a similar three way valve 82 located on the bar and connected with the manifold 54.

When the valve 8| is in one position it connects the manifold 54 to the servomotor of the master valve 3|; but when the valve 8| is in another position it puts the tubing 18 from the servomotor in communication with an exhaust port 84 of the valve 8|. The operation of the air cock 82 is similar.

There is a check valve 86 in the manifold 54 between the valve 56 and the three way cocks 8| and 82. This check valve 86 prevents back flow of air from the air cocks 8| and 82 so that if the valve 56 is left open indefinitely and causes a drop in the pressure of the air, it is not possible for such a drop in pressure to cause a partial exhaust of air from either or both of the servomotors that may be connected with the manifold 54 through the air cock 8| or 82.

Figure 2 shows the internal construction of the master valve 3|. This valve includes a housing 89 enclosing two chambers 90 and 9| which are connected by a port 92. The beer line 20 connects with the chamber 9| through an inlet 93 which is open at all times. The rod 23 connects with the chamber 9| through a conduit 95 having a port 96 and having an enlarged portion 91 upstream from the port 96 as shown in Fig. 2.

The upper chamber above the port 92 connects with the water supply line 35 through a permanently open water inlet 98; and there is one other opening through the side of the valve housing, this other opening comprising a passage 99 in axial alignment with the ports 92, and 96.

A reciprocating valve element ||l| extends through the passage or opening 99 along the common axis of the chambers 90 and 9|, and the ports 92 and 96. This reciprocating valve element comprises a valve stem |03 and two valvev heads |04 and |55, the valve heads being merely portions of the stem of increased diameter, in the construction illustrated.

Each of the valve heads |04 and |05 has a circumferential groove that holds an O-ring |06.

The term O-ring is used herein to designate a compressible ring of rubber or similar material, and having the shape of a toris or anchor ring. Each O-ring extends radially beyond the circumferential groove in which it is held, and ts loosely enough in the groove to roll to some extent when the valve element moves axially through a port with which the O-ring comes in contact.

The ports 92 and 96 have their side walls diverging toward the ends of the ports; and the diameter and divergence of these ports are so correlated with the size of the O-rings |06 that the O-rings seal the ports with a wedge action as they are moved into the ports by the reciprocating motion of the valve element I When the valve element ||l| is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the valve head |64 and its associated O-ring IBS seal the port 92 so that no water can enter the beer line 20, but the beer line is in direct communication with the keg through the conduit 95 and its port 96.

The valve heads |64 and |05 are spaced from one another by an axial distance somewhat greater than the eiective spacing of the ports 92 and 96 so that as the valve element I0| moves downwardly, the Valve head |95 and its associated 0-ring |06 enter into and seal the port 96 before the valve element |64 and its associated O-ring move out of the port 92. This shuts oiT the connection between the keg and the beer line 20, before communication is established between the water line 35 and the beer line 26|. The advantage of this feature is that the valve never moves into a position that would permit beer and water to mix even though the air or gas pressure supplied to the servomotor is too low to push the piston as far as it should against the pressure of the servomotor spring.

When the valve head IM first moves out of the port 92, water iiows into the chamber 9| and into the beer line 2B, but the valve head |05 closes the port 9B. Further downward movement of the valve element IElI brings the valve head |65 into the enlarged portion 9T where the clearance between the port 95 and the valve stem permits water in the chamber Si to ilow through the port 9B and into the conduit 95 to the beer rod for washing out the beer rod after the keg has become empty and before tapping the new keg.

Just beyond the water port 98, there is a bushing I I0 with a seat at its inner end. A ball check valve |I2 is held against this seat by a spring I I4. This check valve permits water to flow into the valve housing but it prevents any back iiow of liquid from the valve housing 89 into the water line 35.

There is an enlarged portion of the valve stem |03 in the opening 95 with a circumferential groove and an O-ring ||5 sealing the passage 99 against the ow of water from the housing. This O-ring I|5 takes the place of the conventional packing commonly used with reciprocating rods.

An actuator comprising a piston is connected to the upper end of the valve stem. This piston ts freely in a cylinder formed in a cap |22 that is threaded at its lower end to the valve housing 89. The piston |26 has a piston ring which preferably comprises on O-ring |25, similar to the O-rings on the valve heads, but of larger diameter. The outside surface of the cap |22 has a hexagonal portion |26 for receiving a wrench to screw the cap on the valve housing or to unscrew the cap from the valve housing.

The piston |20 is urged upward by a spring |28 and the piston is pushed downward by the pres- Although pressure in the cylinder can be relieved at any time by opening the exhaust port of the air cock on the bar as previously explained in connection with Figure 1, the manually actuated relief valve |36 provides a means for exhausting the cylinder at the servomotor itself. A valve element |35 of the valve |30 can be shifted into position to allow exhaust of the air from the port |32 through the housing of the valve by pushing a button |38 connected with the valve element |35. The valve element |35 and button |38 are normally held, by a coil spring |40, in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. With the parts in this position, the tubing i8 is in direct communication with the cylinder port |32.

In the normal operation of the servo-motor, the air pushes the piston |23 down until the shoulder |44 on the valve stem strikes against an abutment. When the servo-motor reaches this position, the valve head |05 seals the port 93, and the port 92 is open. In order to let the servomotor move further so that the beer line and the conduit to the beer rod are in communication with the water supply line simultaneously, the abutment is removed from the path of the shoulder |44 by pushing a button |46.

This button |46 is connected with one end of a stem |48 extending through an opening in the side of the valve housing. The stem |48 is a part of a plate |50 in which there is an opening for passage of the valve stem |03. The opening has a portion of substantially the same diameter as the cross section of the valve stem |03 below the I shoulder |44. The edge of this portion of the opening serves as the abutment against which the shoulder |44 contacts. In order to remove this abutment from the path of the shoulder, the plate |50 is moved transversely to the axis of the valve stem by pushing the button |46 so as to shift the plate and bring the enlarged portion of the opening under the shoulder |44. This enlarged portion of the opening has a diameter equal to the maximum diameter of the valve stem, above the shoulder |44, so that the piston can m'ove downward to the lower end of its stroke.

The button |46 is urged outward by a coil spring |52 and when in its outward position, the stem |48 and plate |50 are in the positions shown in Fig. 4, with the edge of the small diameter portion of the plate opening pressed against the valve stem.

The plate |50 is located under a washer |55 which rests on a shoulder in the valve housing so as to leave clearance for the free movement of the plate I5!! under the washer. This washer |55 has a ridge |51 around its center opening and this ridge serves as a guide for the spring |28. There is a drain opening |59 through the valve housing for the escape of water which leaks past the O-ring I5.

In the operation of the valve, the initial movement of the servo-motor shifts the piston downward until the abutment |44 strikes against the edges of the small diameter opening through the plate |52, and the valve heads will thus stop in position to put the water line in communication with the beer line while the conduit to the keg is sealed against the entrance of water'. It is only when the rod is removed from the keg or the I 7 keg is empty that any further movementl of the servo-motor is desirable.

When the rod is to be washed, the button |40 is pushed to shift the plate |50 and allow the servo-motor to move further and shift the valve heads into positions to put the Water line into communication with the beer line and beer rods simultaneously.

If it becomes desirable to bring the servomotor back to its initial position, without coming up to the bar to operate the remote control air cock, the return of the servo-motor can be effected by pushing the button |38 so as to open the relief valve |30. Air escapes from' the open relief valve |30 fast enough to reduce the pressure in the cylinder |22 below that required to move the piston against the spring |28.

The spring |28 pushes the servo-motor piston upward until the shoulder |44 passes the plate |50 and unless the attendant is holding the button |46, the spring |52 will shift the plate into position to block downward movement of the shoulder |44 beyond the plate. The button |38 of the relief valve can then be released, and the compressed air supply through the tubing 1S will hold the servo-motor piston down as far as it can go with the shoulder |44 against the plate 50.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, but changes and modifications can be made and some features can be used alone or in different combinations without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. For connecting a water line selectively with a. beer keg, a beer line or both, a valve comprising a housing having a first inlet, a second inlet and an intermediate first outlet chamber, a reciprocating valve element operable in one position to put the first inlet in communication with the intermediate chamber only, and operable in another position to put the second inlet in communication with the first inlet and intermediate chamber simultaneously, a servo-motor for moving the valve element in the valve housing, an inlet port through which compressed air is supplied as working fiuid to the servo-motor, spring means urging the servo-motor in a direction opposite to that which it is moved by the compressed air, a shoulder fixed relatively to said valve element, a stop in the path of said shoulder disposed to prevent said servo-motor from moving the valve element from' said one position to said other position, means for moving the stop out of position so that the servo-motor can make a complete stroke, and resilient means urging the stop back into its original position.

2. For connecting a beer line selectively with a water line, a beer keg or both the water line and beer keg simultaneously, a valve comprising a housing having an inlet, an inlet chamber and an intermediate outlet chamber, a first throat interconnecting the inlet with the intermediate chamber and a second throat aligned with the first throat and interconnecting the intermediate chamber and the inlet chamber, movable in the housing a valve stem having a pair of valves for entering and closing said throats, said stem being movable axially of the throats between a first position in which one valve closes said first throat and a second position in which the other valve closes the second throat, the spacing between said valves being at least equal to the length of said intermediate chamber but less than the length of said intermediate chamber plus the length of one of said throats so that said valves close both throats while the stem is moved between said positions, the stem being movable beyond said second position to a third position in which said valves advance out of said throats so that both of said inlets communicate with said intermediate chamber, said stem having a shoulder and said housing carrying a stop in the path of said shoulder to prevent the stem from moving into said third position, means yieldingly holding the stop in the path of said shoulder, and motor means for moving the stem from said first position and yieldingly urging the shoulder against the stop, said stop being movable out of the path of the shoulder to allow the stem to be moved to said third position.

3. For connecting a beer line selectively with a. water line, a beer keg or both the Water line and beer keg simultaneously, a valve comprising a housing having an inlet, an inlet chamber and an intermediate outlet chamber, a first throat interconnecting the inlet with the intermediate chamber and a second throat aligned with the first throat and interconnecting the intermediate chamber and the inlet chamber, movable in the housing a valve stem having a pair of valves for entering and closing said throats, said stem being movable axially of the throats between a first position in which one valve closes said first throat and a second position in which the other valve closes the second throat, the spacing between said valves being at least equal to the length of said intermediate chamber but less than the length of said intermediate chamber plus the length of' one of said throats so that said valves close both throats While the stem is moved between said positions, the stem being movable beyond said second position to a third position in which said valves advance out of said throats so that both of said inlets communicate with said intermediate chamber, a shoulder on the valve stem outside of the valve housing, a plate with an opening through which the valve stem passes, a portion of the opening being of a size insufficient for passage of the shoulder on the valve stem so that edges of the opening comprise an abutment for stopping the stroke of the stem, motor means for moving the stem from said first position and yieldingly urging the shoulder against the abutment, a manually actuated device that pushes the plate into position to bring another opening under the shoulder of the valve stem, said other opening being of a size sufficient to provide space for passage of the shoulder of the valve stem, and a spring urging the plate back into its original position upon release of the manually actuated device.

4. For connecting a Water line selectively with a beer keg, a beer line or both, a valve comprising a housing having a first inlet, a second inlet and an intermediate outlet chamber, a reciprocating valve element operable in one position to put the first inlet in communication with the intermediate chamber only, and operable in another position to put the second inlet in communication with the first inlet and intermediate chamber simultaneously, a servo-motor for moving the valve element in the valve housing, an inlet port through which compressed air is supplied as Working fiuid to the servo-motor, spring means urging the servo-motor in a direction opposite to that which is moved by the compressed air, a shoulder fixed relatively to said valve element, a stop in the path of said shoulder disposed to prevent said servo-motor from mov- 9 10 ing the valve element from said one position to UNITED STATES PATENTS said other position, means for moving the stop Number Name Date out of position so that the servo-motor can make 318 2,17 Harvey May 19 1885 a complete stroke, resilient means urging the 900260 Boyd 001.6 1903 Stop back int() its Original position, and a manu- 5 927,893 Steiger July 13, 190g ally actuated relief valve for exhausting air from 1 461835 Stroud my 17 1923 the servo-motor in order to permit the spring to 2011323 Remck Aug 13 1935 return the servo-motor far enough to cause the 2023854 Petrcone Dec 10 193,5 stop to return t0 its effective position. 21076;,114 Panagopoulos AISI. 6', 1937 10 2,189,950 Gump Feb. 13, 1940 FREDERICK J' WARCUP- 2,206,957 Hose July 9, 1940 2,213,309 Fortune Sept. 3, 1940 REFERENCES CITED 2,285,655 Heinemann June 9, 1942 The following references are of record in the 2,307,953 Shafer Jan, 12, 1943 le 0f this patenti 15 2,358,228 Hoof sept. 12, 1944 2,414,451 Christensen Jan. 21, 1947 2,458,230 Warcup Jan. 4, 1949 

